Prospective driver’s licence applicants will now be examined through a computerised system to ensure that they are equipped with modern trends of driving.
Under the new initiative, only applicants who can read and write would be successful as the examination would be of the standard of other professional examinations.
The Eastern Regional Manager of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority ( DVLA), Mr Joseph Clifford Obosu, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the move was part of strategies crafted by his organisation and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service to reduce motor accidents in the region.
Explaining the reason for the introduction of the computerised system, he said it was aimed at identifying only people who could drive.
He said the MTTU, in a bid to assist in ensuring lower number of casualties on the road, was vigorously enforcing the newly-passed legislative Instrument (L.I. 2180) which, among other things, barred the making and receiving of mobile phone calls while driving.
He said the programme had been piloted for a year and added that from January to June 2012, a total of 998 out of 1,354 people who applied for the licences and went through the computer-based examination were successful as against 899 out of 1,034 applicants who sought the licences this year.
According to Mr Obosu, the rationale for the new system is to ensure that only the educated who can read road signs and have a fair knowledge on issues such as insurance, fire fighting, safe driving and functions of the vital parts of the vehicle are mandated to drive.
Providing details of how to acquire a licence under the new system, Mr Obosu stated that prospective drivers should not be below the age of 18 ( private) and 23 (commercial) drivers and were obligated to identity themselves, followed by physical examination, especially eye test, to make sure the person did not have any deformity.
Thereafter, he said, they had to go through a computer-based theoretical examination on many aspects of safe driving which, in his opinion, had been made simple and any person who could read and write could easily pass.
After that stage, the successful applicant would be given a learner’s licence and taken through practical driving test before he or she would be issued with a driver’s licence for a short period of three months.
He indicated that those who failed the examinations, especially the computer-based test, had the option of a re-examination after going through the learning process again.
Mr Obosu said applicants would be given a driver’s licence only after going through a road test after taking the computer-based test and also proving their knowledge in vehicle composition, functions of the vital parts, insurance and what to do when involved in an accident.
In answer to a question on road worthiness certificates for vehicles, Mr Obosu stated that his outfit had to properly examine vehicles before allowing them on the road, adding that without examination, no such road worthy certificates would be given.
He warned motorists against going through the back door for such certificates.
The use of DV number plates, he also indicated, was only for testing of vehicles after repair, conveyance from point of discharge or premises of dealer or owner, adding that it was wrong to use such number plates for commercial purposes or social activities like weddings and engagements.
The Regional Commander of the MTTU, Mr Samuel Tetteh, said L.I 2180 would be vigorously enforced and added that policemen had been placed at vantage points to apprehend drivers who would flout the rule.
According to him, his outfit has to vigorously enforce the law to stop the carnage on the roads in the region.
Providing statistics on road accidents in the region, he said between January and June last year (2012), 169 persons died and 1,175 were injured in motor accidents as against 125 killed and 1,384 injured during the same period this year.
By A. Kofoya-Tetteh/Daily Graphic/Ghana
